Liquid-fuel radiant heater



y 1930- F. v. RISINGER 1,760,319 Q I LIQUID FUEL RADIANT HEATER. I

Filed Jan. 7, 1929 '3 Sheets-Sheet l Fisl im-.5-

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y 1930- F. v. RISING-ER 1,760,319 7 LIQUID FUEL RADIANT HEA TER Filed Jan. 7, 1929 s sheets-sheet 2 May 27, 1930. F. v. RISINGER LIQUID FUEL RADIANT HEATER Filed Jan. '7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 v u. v

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Patented May 27, 1930 PATENT ()FFICE FRANK V. RISINGER, OF LAKEVJOOD, OHIO LIQUID-FUEL RADIANT HEATER Application filed January 7', 1928.

This invention has to do with radiant heaters, so known today, and which are of two types. The type commonly in use, is the gas radiant heater, which is supplied with the gaseous fuel from a suitable gas main or source of supply. A type of radiant heater proposed is adapted for the use of hydrocarbon fuel, but so far as I am aware, no successful hydrocarbon radiant heater has been developed, or is on the market.

liy invention, therefore, involves improvements in the liquid fuel type of radiant heaters, and involves primarily the provision of a simple and convenient means for generating the fuel gas that is to be used at the burner 0f the heater.

In the development of my invention, my experience has shown that the ideal fuel gas generated from a suitable hydrocarbon fuel supply, is one which is provided by application to the generator of an even heat over the entire vaporizing surface of the generator, and I have, furthermore, learned that a too great amount of heat is disadvantageous because it will cause carbonizing of the fuel which is to be avoided to as great an extent as possible for a practical commercial device for my purposes.

In the carrying out of my invention, I have designedniy liquid fuel radiant heater with a special view to constructing and locating the generator so that it will function properly from the heat of the flame of the burner after the preheating means has been rendered ineffective by a thermostatic cutoii' switch and before the radiant heating elements have become heated.

Associated with the electrical heating means used for the preliminary heating of the generator, is a thermostatic switch which cuts off the supply of current to the preheating means in a comparatively short time. In fact, just as soon as the generator is heated sufiiciently to vaporize the fuel the thermostat functions to cut out the electrical heating means, whereupon the generator is heated by the flame of the burner.

For the second aspect of my invention presented in the phase of continuous operatlon of the generator for vaporlzmg the fuel, I

Serial No. 336,833.

preferably arrange the generator in the heating zones of the radiants which form a part of my heater or stove.

Moreover, this heating zone is'at the top of the radiants, preferably, where the heat generated at the burner is most evenly distributed over the entire surfaceof the genorator body.

lVhile I have referred to an electric preheating means for the generator which preliminarily vaporizes the fuel until the gen orator is heated by the heat in the heating zone of the radiants, I would not Wish to be limited to such electric pre-heating means for some other equivalent means might be employed and possibly be as effective.

llevertheless, my type and arrangement of electric pre-heating means, I believe, to involve special novelty of its own.

My experience with the design of radiant F burners leads me to believe that a primary object in the development of this type of burner today is to prevent the formation of carbon in the generator which will ultimately clog the outlet orifice or jet through which the vaporized fuel passes for mixing with air, and for ultimate burning.

Another object of my invention has been to so design my heater as to prevent distortion of the generator which results from uneven heating of the latter.

Obviously, by heating the generator very evenly by a proper distribution of the preheating heat, and the continuing heat, a reduced amount of heat may be employed over its surface as compared with those types of generators where even distribution of heat has not been secured. I

This thought of heating the generator very evenly by proper distribution of the'hea-t, both pre-heating and continuing, lends itself to the availment of every bit of the heat generated in the radiants for assisting vaporization action in the generator, by so arranging the generator with respect to the radiants that every bit of the heat of the latter is used in vaporization action, particularly when the electric pre-heating means has been thrown out of operation by the thermostat, a condition wherein heating past a carbonization point of the fuel. in the generator inhibited.

Needless to say, economy of operation is afforded'by making it unnecessary to use the pro-heating means any longer than the time required to heat the fuel to vapo ization. Furthermore, economy in the construction is afforded due to the obviating of the need of additional burner tips which will ordinarily be located beneath that part of the burner through which the vapor passes. It will be seen therefore that not only simplicity of construction is provided, but very quick action in starting the heater in operation may be had due to the presence of the pro-heating device.

With these and other objects in view, as will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be subsequently specified and claimed For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a radiant type heater made in accordance with my invention, parts of the radiants being broken away to more clearly bring out th disposition ofthe generator.

' l igurev 2 is a fragmentary end of the heater lringing ticularly the arrangement of the burner with respect to the carbureting mechanism, in a modified form.

Figure 3 is a plan *iew with the top removed taken about on the line 3ei of Figure 1.

Figure i :nodific tio showing of one is a front *iew bringing out one n of the manner embodying my invention in a practical construction.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken about on the line 55 of Figure 4;.

Figures 6, '7, 8 and 9 detail showings, partly section and somewhat fragmentary, bringing out the particular location of the generator with respect to the remainder of the 7 construction of the heater.

Figure 1.0 is an enlar ed view showing more clearly the thermost tic switch used in conjunction with this invention.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line ll--ll of Fig ire 10.

Figure 12 a view from the top in section of a modification which develops the invention in a somewhat different manner.

. Figure 13 is a fragmentary view from the front bf the top portion of the heater shown in FigurelZ.

Figure 14 is a sectional view somewhat diagrammatic from the side which develops particularly the location of the generator instrumentalities with respect to the radiants.

Figure 15 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1e bringing out the different method out more parof locating the generator instrumentalities in the construction of the heater, and

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figures 14: and 15 which shows still another manner in which the generator instrumentalities may be included in the construction of the heater.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is herein set forth, it is to be understood 1 am not to be limited to the en act constructions illustrated and described, as various modifications ofthese details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims. 7

A fuel heater adapted to consume a hydrocarbon fuel such as oil is shown In the drawings made in accordance with my invenmembers 1 which maintain the heater upraised a slight distance from a floor or like supporting surface. A tank B of substantially cylindrical formation is held in the framework A in any approved manner and this tank is adapted to be filled by availing of the opening and closure shown at 2. Properly supported in the framework A just above the tank B is the manifold 3 having a burner as shown at 4. The burner 4 is provided with a radiant 5 which is supported thereaboye, and itis noted that the burner is positioned so that the radiants cooperatwith the burner forms what is in effect a solid bank of heat radiants. These radiants extend substantiall to the top of the heater and may be of any approved construction which is known to one versed in this art.

The manifold 3 is formed at one end with a vertically extending portion 6 terminating in a flared mouth 7, and these portions 6 and 7 function together with certaininstrumentalities to be later described, to carburet the fuel.

Inasmuch as one of these heaters is designed to throw the heat only forwardly from the side upon which the radiants are located, the back thereof is provided with a heat insulating and reflecting backing 8. Of course the heater is provided with a-finished backing 9 which may be of the same metal as employed in the construction of the frame portion A.

: A generator for vaporizing fuel prior to its entry into the manifold 3 is located in the upper portion of the heaters in proper relation to the radiants so that it may receive the maximum heat supplied by the latter elements, and is referred to by the reference character 10. This generator.10 is nothing more than .a tube which is surrounded by properly insulated electric resistance elements which heat the said tube and any con tent thereof. The thermostatically controlled switch indicated at 11. and this device functions to discontinue the supply of electric energy [0 the electric heat elements in the generator 10 when the heat provided this generator by the electrical heating elements has reached the point sufficien y to properly carry out the vaporizing action in ll6 generator. The generator 10 is properly supported in the framework A and one end thereof is put into communication with the supply tank B by tie tube shown at 12. A valve control 13 governs the flow of oil from the tank B through tube 12 to the generator 10.

At the other end of the generator 10 from which the tube 12 is connected thereto, is located a nozzle ll and associated valve control 15. An air pump which may be connected with the tank at 2 stores up compressed air in the tank, which places vapor under some little pressure, and the instrumentalities 1e and 15 function to blow this vapor with a sort of spraying action into the flared mouth 7 of the tubular portion 6 of the manifold 3. Inasmuch as the end 7 is spaced from the nozzle l-l, a certain amount of air will be admixed with the vaporizeo fuel to form the ultimate gas which is consumed by the flame at the base of the radiants. Operating member 16 is operable to operate the valvecontrol 15 to vary the strength of the spray from the nozzle 14 as occasion demands.

The operation of the construction previously described may be briefly summed up as follows:

The switch 11 is turnedon by manual operation to cause a preheating of the generator 10, due to the action of the electric heating elements. tsuch time the valve control 13 is operated to permit fuel to pass to the generator. After sullicient time Vapor to be formed by ti 0 generator, which time will be very short due to the present invention, the nozzle 1 will provide a vapor spray to the manifold 3 through the vertical portion 6. At this time a match or similar lighting el ment is availed of to initiate a flame at the burner 4i and radiants 5. After the generator has been properly heated up, due to the electrical pro-heating means, the thermostat switch 11 will be affected to cut off the supply of electric energy to the electrical heating elements of the generator 10; whereupon this generator 10 will be heated (any by the heat supplied by the flame of the burner. In this manner it is impossible for the heat provided the generator to exceed a point greater than the greatest heat supplied through the radiants. It is therefore impossible for the offensive carbonization action to take place in the generator. The thermostatic switch 11 is so designed that upon cooling of the radiants, due ton cutting off of the fuel to the burner l, the said switch 11 will not again supply electric heating elements until it has been manually operated for this purpose;

this arran ement being provided, in view of the obvious necessity for not having the pro-heating means rendered eifectlve at the termination of a period in which the heater has been used, this pro-heating means being needed. only when the heater is first brought into operation.

Referring nowto Figures 10 and'll, it is noted that thethermostatic switch, referred to generally by the reference character 11, 1s

located at one end of the generator 10. This mechanism comprises a casing 30 which may be held in position by the bracket 31, WhlCll may constitute a part of the support for the generator 10. Movable in the casing 30 is a slide 32 formed with a notch 33. Connected to this slide 32 is socket member 34 in which is located a spring affected plunger 35. This plunger has a head 36, that when in contact with a strip 30, insulated from the casing 30 latch 39 is fastened at one end to the casing 30 and has a hook 40 that is adapted for engagement with slide 32 in notch 33. When the slide is moved inwardly, due to pressure on member 38. contact head 36 engages the strip 30, completing-the circuit to the heater. Atthe samet-ime the hook 40 engages notch 33 to hold the slidein position. Now the latch 39 is of an alloy or made of two differentmetals so that under the influence of heat it will curl. As this latch arm 39 is located near the generator 10, heating of the latter entails a heating of the former, whereupon the latch curls up and-the hook 4O dis engages the slide 32. This permits the slide to more outwardly under action of the spring 3? to break the circuit to the heater.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 develop very clearly ui'l'erent places at which the generator 10 may be located in order to avail of the greatest heat all rrded by its location with respect to th radiants. In Figures 6 and 7, the gener ator shown as positioned on top of the radiants, and Figures 8 and 9 show this generator located in cutaway portions at the rear of the radiants 5. A cover member 17 extends over the top of the radiants and backing 8 to provide a finished appearance, and to aid in holding the heat so as to completely encircle the generator 10.

In Figures el and 5 is shown a modification wherein the carbureted fuel is supplied to the manifold 3 at a point intermediate the ends thereof so as to provide for a better distribution of this fuel to the burner bythe manifold. In this form the vertical portion 6, which. in the other form was located at one end of the manifold 8, is dispensed with and inst ad the manifold 3 is formed centrally thereof in the rear of the radiants with a hollow projecting portion 18. This portion 18 is designed to carry out the carbureting' nozzle 20 is admixed with air coming through the opening 19 to provide the ultimate gas which 18 consumed by the burner l. Operating member 23 may be availed of to control the supply of vapor fuel to the burners. The

' remainder of the construction of this form is the same as that of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the description thereof need not here be repeated. This form has the advantage of maintaining the vaporized fuel in a properly heated and vaporized condition right up to its delivery to the burner. The positioning of the tube 21 in the rear of the radiants, causes the former to be heated by the latter. I note that this tube 21 is located in the heating zone of the radiants.

vl igure 2 shows an arrangement for preheating the generator tube which is nonelectrical in character. In this form the vertically disposed portion 6 of the manifold 3 is located on the exterior of the frame A and in the space which would normally be occupied by this part is located a container X which may contain any suitable fuel as shown at Y. 'This fuel may be ignited to heat-the generator 10 sufiiciently to carry out the vaporizing action until the heat afforded in the radiants has reached an adequate degree.

The construction of a burner embodying the present invention has done away with the need of any upper and lower burner arrangements which increase the liability of escape of unburned or carbon. monomde gas into a v chamber where the fuel heater is located. one burner tip arrangement insures a sufticient supply of oxygen to carry out a completecon'ibustion of the gases, there being no interference with the oxygen supply there is when one flame is located above another flame. 7

Of course there is no real necessity for the generator to be located inside or within the confines of the radiants. The fundamental idea is to locate the generator so that it derives its heat from the flame of the burner which heats the radiants. Preferably, this I heat will be conducted to the generator by the radiant heating elements, as such an arrangement has various obvious advantages. In Figures 14, 15 and 16 various places in which the generator tube 10 might be located, are shown. Figure 14 brings out apreferred method of locating the generator tube which is p'imarily designed for use with the arrangement of the construction shown in Figures 12 and 13 to be hereinafter more fully described. In this form the generator tube is located at the top of the radiants and at the back thereof. Figure 15 shows the tube 10 located in back of the radiants and not properly within the latter. Figure 16 shows the tube located a substantial distance in front of the radiants with the latter so formed as to conduct theheat from the flame to the.

tube 10 through the radiant heating elements.

It is obvious from the foregoing that many constructions dlfferent from each other .inight be availed of wherein the heat from by the radiants. This tubular member is 10- cated at the top of the radiants as clearly shown in Figures 12 and 14. Preheating instrumentalities ll which comprise a tube and electric heating means such as included in the constructions previously described, is connected with the tubular member 10 by the connector i2. The preheating instrumentalities 41 are locatedin the rear of the tube 10 and of course inthe rear of the radiants but are in a position where they readily receive heat from the flame of the burner which is connected thereto by the radiants.

in this form a burn er 4:3 is availed of which includes an offset portion 44 which is the pointof entry of fuel to the burner. The offset portion l lis formed with an opening 4:5, and in this opening is located a carbureting member 46 having an opening d7. Air passes through the opening 47 to the interior of the carbureting member 46 wherein it is-admixed with vaporized fuel which is delivered from the preheating instrumentalities 41' to the member 46 by the connecting pipe 18.

Thermostatic instrumentalities of the construction previously described are employed to cut off the supply of electricity to the pre heating means 41 when thelatter has reached a certain predetermined heat. Of course when the electric heating means has been rendered inoperative, the tube of the preheating instrumentalities 41 is supplied heat by the radiants which conduct heat from the burner thereto. In this form heat from the radiants 5 will pass upwardly and some will pass through the opening shown at 49, while a portion of the heat will pass through the opening 50. This arangement insures the heating of both of the generating and preheating tubes 10 and 41.

This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that it will derive heat from the flame of the burner prior to the actual heating of the radiant-s. The last named elements will deliver heat to the generator tubes b fore they will heat to an extent sufflcient to radiate heat to the chamber or room which it is intended to warm by the use of the heater. This arrangement insures of the proper work of the heater because the electrical preheating instrumentalities only remain operative a very short time, they being immediately cut off by the thermostatic instrumentalities 11 when they have reached a temperature sufficient to vaporize the fuel. It is then of course essential that the generator be heated so that the vaporizing action may continue, hence the provision of the arrangement whereby the generators derive heat from the flame of the burner prior to the actual heating of the ra- *diants.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 2- 1. In a heater, in combination, a burner, heating elements heated by a flame from the burner at the base of the heating elements, and a generating appliance for vaporizing liquid fuel to be consumed at said burner,

said appliance being located at the upper portions of the heating elements remote from the burner and in heat exchange relation to the said elements.

2. In a heater of the class described, the combination with a burner, and radiant heating elements adapted to be heated by the said burner arranged at the base thereof, a generator for vaporizing liquid fuel, said generator being heated by the products of combustion which are conducted to the generator by the radiant heating elements, said generator being also disposed lengthwise with respect to the radiants at the upper part thereof so as to receive evenly distributed heat from the latter.

3. In a heater of the class described, the combination with a burner and radiant heating elements adapted to be heated by the flame from the burner, of a generator appliance for vaporizing liquid fuel said generator being locate-d remote from the burner so that it is heated by the heat of the products of combustion, said radiants constituting a means for conducting the said products to the generator appliance.

4.. In a heater of the class described, the combination with a burner, of radiant heating elements, of a generator appliance for vaporizing liquid fuel to be consumed by the burner, said appliance comprising a tube located in a position remote from the burner wherein it will receive heat from the products of combustion which are conducted thereto by the radiants, and preheating means arranged in heat exchange relation to the generator for vaporizing fuel priorto the lighting of the burner. I I

5. In a heaterof the class described, the combination with a burner, of radiant heating elements, of a generator appliance for vaporizing liquid fuel to'be consumed by the burner, said appliance comprising a tube located in a position remote relative to the burner wherein it will receive heat from the products of combustion which are conducted thereto by the radiants, and preheating means for vaporizing fuel prior to the lighting of the burner, said preheating means comprising a tube arranged contiguous to the generator, and means for heating said tube and at the same time the generator.

6. In a heater of the class described, the combination with a burner, of radiant heating elements, of a generator appliance for vaporizing liquid fuel to be consumed by the burner, said appliance comprising a tube located in a position wherein it will receive heat from the products of combustion which are conducted tiereto by the radiants, and preheating means for vaporizing fuel prior to the lighting of the burner, said preheating means comprising a tube and electrical heating elements disposed in the rear of the radiants and being closely located parallel to said first named tube to transmit heat thereto in the preheating process.

7. In radiant heaters of the class described, the combination of a burner, a radiant adapted to be heated by the burner, and a generator arranged relatively remote from the burner in the path of the products of combustion and in heat exchange relation with said radiant element.

8. In radiant heaters of the class described, the combination of a burner, a radiant disposed over the burner so as to be heated thereby, and a generator arranged at the upper part of the radiant and distant from the burner, said radiant acting to conduct the products of combustion to the generator whereby said generator is heated by said products of combustion and the reflected heat of the radiant.

9. In radiant heaters of the class described, the combination of a burner, a radiant at one end of which said burner is located, and a generator at the other end of the radiant and spaced from the burner so as to be heated by the products of combustion passing through the radiant.

10. In a radiant heater of the class de scribed, the combination of a burner, a se ries of substantially. tubular radiants arranged over the burner, and a generator comprising an elongated tubular member arranged in spaced relation to the burner at the upper part of the radiants so as to be uniformly heated throughout its length by the columns of the products of combustion pass;

ing through said radiants.

11. In a heater of the class described, the combination with burner means and radiant elements associated therewith, of generator instrumentalities for vaporizing fuel prior to delivery thereof to the burner means, said instrumentalities being disposed adjacent said elements and in heat receiving relation to the burner flame as it acts on the elements, said burner means being disposed at a level lower than the radiant elements andremote from the generator instrumentalities;

In testimony whereof I afliX my signa- FRANK V. RISINGER.

- ture. 

